Underground RR Quilt Block

[OHhappychicks]

Ladies, I'm sorry I went out of the house and left the packages, I will try to get to the PO by sat, I'm so sorry

You are forgiven! We all have so much on our minds!

 

[Lacy Blues]

Minniechicks~congratulations! Nothing, nothing like a precious baby!
I also like the disappearing nine patch! Colors doesn't matter much to me. I'm not a fan of bright colors, but what ever is decided I will go with. I need something a little quicker/easier!

not that the urr was very hard, but, when my squares don't square up, it drives me crazy!
I will have to get some instructions from you seasoned quilters on cutting for this next one.
And as for the surprise coming from our friends on the other side of the pond,

.
I love surprises! Thank you very much, in advance.
Someone posted earlier asking if any one was going to get chicks this spring, sorry I don't remember who. It is to hard on the nook to go back and forth. I'm planning on gettingsome buckeyes. I bought some in '13. A friend and I split 12. I got 4 roos and 2 hens. I'm down to 1 hen due to a fox. But I absolutely love my buckeye hen. Can't wait toget some more. Thinking about a couple of turkey's too. Just need to research what kind to get. I will keep an eyeon this thread to keep informed.
I've missed being on here with you ladies! Hope everyone is doing well and keeping warm. It actually hasn't been to bad here the last couple of weeks. Hi's in the upper 30's - low 50's. Nites in the low 30's to upper 20's. That is a heat wave compared to what we had in the beginning of the month! Single digit hi's and below 0 lows! Brrr!
It's time for us to start thinking of getting ready to make maple syrup! Ummm! We made it last year for the first time and loved it. That will be coming up in february.
I will keep checking back with you all. Fighting a head cold right now, so I'm going to shut my eyes for a bit. Take care all, and God bless you!

Per the youtube video, the cutting will be simple. A 5" block, actually 9 of them. Different purples around the outside and a soft creamer yellow of sorts on the inside.

I find that cutting my pieces a little larger than the actual size called for, like 1/4 inch larger makes it work so much easier/better. I make my initial stitching, iron out nice and flat, put on the cutting board and zip off the extra. It's amazing that sometimes the extra consists of 1/4" and sometimes I don't have anything to cut away... I must be a terrible seamstress/quilter. oh well. Doing it this way, ensures that the next step has the right size block. When I get a section put together, I do the same, iron and trim. When the whole block is together... repeat... iron and trim. I like to use a mister spray bottle to slightly wet the whole block as it makes everything lay down nicely.

On the buckeyes, you should see if anyone close to you breeds them. That way you can be sure to get more females. If you want to go the hatchery route though, see about paying a little extra for sexed pullets.

As far as turkeys go, I can't help you. I have a favorite turkey but its based on feather color. I haven't really checked into what I would need to know to actually get one or a few.

This project won't need so many iron and trims. With nine 5-inch blocks, each completed block should measure 14 inches square. We can trim them to be sure. We send out 24 of these.

 

[OHhappychicks]

...

Per the youtube video, the cutting will be simple.  A 5" block, actually 9 of them.  Different purples around the outside and a soft creamer yellow of sorts on the inside.

I find that cutting my pieces a little larger than the actual size called for, like 1/4 inch larger makes it work so much easier/better.  I make my initial stitching, iron out nice and flat, put on the cutting board and zip off the extra.  It's amazing that sometimes the extra consists of 1/4" and sometimes I don't have anything to cut away... I must be a terrible seamstress/quilter.  oh well.  Doing it this way, ensures that the next step has the right size block.  When I get a section put together, I do the same, iron and trim.  When the whole block is together... repeat... iron and trim.  I like to use a mister spray bottle to slightly wet the whole block as it makes everything lay down nicely.

On the buckeyes, you should see if anyone close to you breeds them.  That way you can be sure to get more females.  If you want to go the hatchery route though, see about paying a little extra for sexed pullets.

As far as turkeys go, I can't help you.  I have a favorite turkey but its based on feather color.  I haven't really checked into what I would need to know to actually get one or a few.

This project won't need so many iron and trims.  With nine 5-inch blocks, each completed block should measure 14 inches square.  We can trim them to be sure.  We send out 24 of these.
[/quote

Thx Lacy Blues! My question on cutting is, how do you keep the ruler from slipping when cutting? Know matter how I hold it, it goes off to the left, especially at the top of the cut. I even bought one of the suction type handles to attach to the ruler, but it still slipped. Therefore, my strips are never cut straight. I don't realise how much they get off until I go to sew together. Is tbere a special technique? I watch the videos of others cutting and I never see slippage when tbey do it. They just zip right thru.

I do havea local breeder of buckeyes that is going to hatch some out for me!

As for the turkey's, I've researched a little. I have a friend who raises and has them processed to, sell. I have bought processed from her. I probably will get the kind she raises. I don't remember what kind she has. But I'm going to look into other breeds just to see what is out there.

 

[Lacy Blues]

You are probably trying really hard to keep the blade right next to the ruler and this causes it to slide left. I do the same thing. Two things... hold your ruler straight down and when you cut, don't try so hard to keep it against the ruler. You can also get some little rubbery things to put on the back of your ruler that will keep it from slipping, I think. I remember seeing something sometime for something like that. I should check into getting some too. I'd put a few right down the middle of my ruler.

 

[OHhappychicks]

...

You are probably trying really hard to keep the blade right next to the ruler and this causes it to slide left.  I do the same thing.  Two things... hold your ruler straight down and when you cut, don't try so  hard to keep it against the ruler.  You can also get some little rubbery things to put on the back of your ruler that will keep it from slipping, I think.  I remember seeing something sometime for something like that.  I should check into getting some too.  I'd put a few right down the middle of my ruler.
[/quote

I guess I will have to practice because I do try to keep it next to the ruler. I have seen those rubber things too. I don't quite know how to cut it without keeping blade against the ruler. I will work on it. Thanks for the info!

 

[RustyHen]

OHappychicks this problem with the ruler slipping was mine too.
I tried everything- the best, cheapest, is 3M Nexcare flexible clear tape like for bandaging, even Bonnie Hunter uses it, it kind of grips the fabric and the matt.
I also found that if you can place one or two of your fingers on the noncutting side of the ruler it will help keep it in place. Hope this helps.

 

[Lacy Blues]

OHappychicks this problem with the ruler slipping was mine too.
I tried everything- the best, cheapest, is 3M Nexcare flexible clear tape like for bandaging, even Bonnie Hunter uses it, it kind of grips the fabric and the matt.
I also found that if you can place one or two of your fingers on the noncutting side of the ruler it will help keep it in place. Hope this helps.

I use fingers off the ruler too on the little square ones but for the long ruler, I sort of start out with fingers off the ruler at the bottom when I start to cut, go about half way, adjust my hand further up the ruler... all this to keep the thing from sliding.

RustyHen, is that tape sticky on one side or two? If just on one side, do you make a loop with it so it will stick to the ruler as well as the fabric?

OHappychicks I understand about cutting against the ruler. I wasn't saying not to. I was saying to try not to make it so tight that your rotary cutter pushes the ruler over. Maybe part of it is our position behind the rotary... maybe once we get our ruler set where we want it, we should take a miniscule step to the left so that our cutting arm just has to go forward and not try to stay to our middle, causing us to overcompensate? I'm guessing really.

I will work on the tape idea or just find some gummy rubber dots or something to keep on the ruler.

 

[OHhappychicks]

Thanks for the advice ladies. Iwill look for the tape and practice. I get what you are saying about pushing against the ruler to hard. Iknow that is what I do. Can't wait to get started on these blocks!

 

[RustyHen]

RustyHen, is that tape sticky on one side or two? If just on one side, do you make a loop with it so it will stick to the ruler as well as the fabric?

The tape is only sticky on one side but it has little (perforations?) it is called breathable tape and it just grips the fabric so nicely

 

[Lacy Blues]

Ok, thank you. I will look for it.